Go Get Um!

Where Can I Get Coupons?

The Honolulu Advertiser

The Sunday newspaper provides Hawaii with the largest supply of manufacturer coupons.  You could find up to 3 different coupon inserts.  Red Plum(RP) and Smart Source(SS) are your weekly coupon inserts, while Procter & Gamble (P&G) comes out with a monthly insert.  I know what you're thinking...How am I suppose to save money when I have to pay to get coupons? I promise you will make up the newspaper cost plus still save a lot of money.  It's cheaper to subscribe to home delivery.  But if you don't want to subscribe to the newspaper, ask family and friends who subscribe but don't use their coupons, they're usually happy to let you have them...a lot of times it's just rubbish to them.    

Online

You can print coupons online right from your home computer.  You're allowed to print 2 of each coupon from one single computer.  So if you have access to more than one computer, you can print up multiple copies of a single coupon.  Now you may be thinking...why would I want multiples of the same coupon?  Yes, it is true that you can only use 1 manufacturer coupon per any single item, but you CAN purchase multiple amounts of that same item, and have 1 coupon for each item.  EXAMPLE: I have ten $1.00 off coupons for shampoo.  I can purchase 10 bottles of that shampoo and use all ten coupons.  

It is NOT alright to photocopy coupons...that is a big NO NO...not to mention absolutely illegal. 

Some great websites are coupons.com, coupons.smartsource.com, redplum.com, allyou.com, and coolsavings.com

Product Websites

If there are specific products that you want to buy, you could go directly to their website to see if they are offering any printable coupons online.  Sometimes you can also sign up to receive a coupon through the mail...keep in mind it will take up to 8 weeks to get to you, but nonetheless it will get to you. 

1-800 Questions or Comments

If you look on the back of a products packaging, you are sure to find a 1-800 number for any questions or comments.  If you have a product that you absolutely love, call that 1-800 number and let the representative know just how much you love it and why.  At the conclusion of your conversation, the representative will ask if they could send you some money saving coupons.  Simply give them your name and mailing address and it will be on its way.  Now the coupons they send you are usually for the product that you gave the review for, but often times they will add in coupons for other products that their company manufactures.  These coupons cannot be found in newspapers or online.  In my opinion, these are usually the best coupons to get, because they are usually for a free full-sized product.  Again, they will take up to 8 weeks to get here, but they are worth the wait.  Companies value customer input, that's why they include these 1-800 numbers to begin with...and they reward you for taking the time to call in.  Keep in mind that when you call in you should have the product in front of you because the usually ask for the UPC code printed on the product.  

Samples & Freebies

Sign up for samples and freebies, they always send a coupon with the sample.  I requested a free sample of Always Infinity pads, and they sent me a sample plus a coupon for an absolutely free full sized box of Infinity pads.  Walmart.com provides a lot of free samples you can sign up for.  You can also request free samples directly from manufacturer or product websites.

Magazines 

Some magazines offer coupons, but in my opinion the only magazine worth purchasing specifically for coupons would be 'All You' which is available at Walmart stores.  This magazine is a monthly issue that provides a whole bunch of coupons.  You can subscribe for home delivery here.

Purchase Coupons 
There is a website called thecouponclippers.com and on this site you can purchase various coupons for the cost of shipping.  Now why would you want to buy coupons?  Well, sometimes you will come across an unbelievable coupon that you just can't pass up, and you want to get your hands on more of them.  You can go to this website and purchase a whole bunch for just a few cents each.  Keep in mind that it takes 4 days to ship here from Florida.
 

Manufacturer Coupons vs. Store Coupons

There are 2 types of coupons. The coupons that we have discussed thus far are all manufacturer coupons which means the coupon is generated from the manufacturers themselves.  When you give your cashier a manufacturer coupon, the store will turn around and mail the coupon to the manufacturer, who will then send a check back to the store for the coupon's value.  So basically the coupon is money for the store.

The Second type are store coupons.  Store Coupons are coupons generated from individual stores, so the coupon amount is not reimbursed to the store.  

You are allowed to pair 1 manufacturer coupon with 1 store coupon toward any single item.  For example, if there is a Target coupon for $1.00 off any Herbal Essences product, and you have a Manufacturer Coupon that is $1.00 off any Herbal Essences product, you can use both coupons to purchase one Herbal Essences shampoo, sale price at $2.99 and you end up paying only $0.99 for it (yes, I was lucky enough to cash in on this deal).

Store Advertisements

If you look in various store advertisements, you will be able to find store coupons.  For example, Safeway and Walgreens always have coupons in their Sunday and Midweek ads which you can clip out and use at the specified store.  

Store Websites

You could also go to a specific store website and print up store coupons.  Target and Safeway both have online sections where you can print up store coupons.

Newsletters

Sign up for your favorite store's newsletter or email.  Many times they will send you special offers and promotions.  About once a month CVS, a.k.a. Longs Drugs, sends out $5 off a $25 purchase.  

In Store

As you walk down the aisles of your favorite stores, you will sometimes come across displays that will have tear off pads of coupons.  Other times you may spot a blinking box, that provides you with coupons.  Safeway is infamous for those blinking boxes, they also have a monthly coupon booklet...in my Kaneohe Bay Safeway, they have it in the paper product and toiletry aisles.  Please take only one or two, please don't hoard them, share the wealth with everyone else.  Sometimes when your receipt prints out, a coupon will print out on the back of or after the receipt.  This is called a catalina, it is yet another way to get a hold of money saving coupons.

Frequent Shopper Programs

Don't forget to sign up for frequent shopper programs like Maika'i, Safeway Club Card, CVS Extra bucks Card, Kmart Rewards, etc.